- Songs That Became Anthems Completely By Accident - October 19, 2025
- How Vinyl Records Made Their Unlikely Comeback - October 19, 2025
- The Real Meaning Behind Those Childhood Lullabies - October 19, 2025
The Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci
Imagine owning a handwritten notebook by Leonardo da Vinci himself. In 1994, Bill Gates stunned the world by purchasing the Codex Leicester for $30.8 million, making it the most expensive book ever sold at auction. The manuscript, written in Italian and mirror-script, is a dazzling collection of da Vinci’s scientific musings, illustrations, and observations about water, astronomy, and geology. What makes the Codex Leicester so valuable isn’t just the famous name — it’s a direct window into the mind of a genius, filled with sketches and half-finished thoughts. Gates even scanned the pages and made them publicly available, although the physical book remains in his private collection. The sale was a media sensation and underscored just how much value society puts on the handwritten traces of history’s greatest thinkers. This book is often displayed at museums, but only under the tightest security and for limited periods.
The Magna Carta (1297 Copy)
One of only seventeen known surviving copies, a 1297 Magna Carta sold at Sotheby’s in 2007 for $21.3 million to David Rubenstein, co-founder of The Carlyle Group. The Magna Carta, often called the “birth certificate of freedom,” laid the foundation for modern law and liberty. This particular copy had belonged to the Brudenell family for centuries before it hit the auction block. Rubenstein later loaned it to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., where thousands view it each year. The immense value of this document comes not just from its age but its impact—both on the English-speaking world and on democratic societies globally. The sale was widely reported in the news and marked a rare moment when a foundational document of Western civilization changed hands.
The Birds of America by John James Audubon
John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America” is not just a book—it’s a monumental work of art and natural history. In 2010, a first-edition copy sold at Sotheby’s for $11.5 million. The book is famous for its life-sized, hand-colored illustrations of birds that Audubon himself observed and painted across America. There are only around 120 complete copies known to exist, and each is a massive, double-elephant folio that can barely fit on a standard bookshelf. The book’s rarity, beauty, and historical importance make it a trophy for collectors and museums. It’s often cited by art historians and ornithologists alike as a masterpiece of both science and illustration. Every sale of this book draws headlines, reflecting both its cultural and financial significance.
The Rothschild Prayerbook
The Rothschild Prayerbook is a breathtaking illuminated manuscript from the early 16th century, celebrated for its exquisite miniatures and rich decoration. When Christie’s auctioned it in 2014, it fetched $13.4 million, setting a record for an illuminated manuscript at the time. The book was crafted in the Flemish region and passed through the hands of European nobility before landing in the famous Rothschild banking family’s collection. Its pages are filled with religious texts, prayers, and stunning artwork that reflect the wealth and taste of its original owners. The manuscript’s dramatic provenance—having been seized by the Nazis and later returned—adds a layer of intrigue and emotion to its story. Today, it is considered a treasure of both art and history, and its sale was reported globally.
The Bay Psalm Book
Only eleven copies of the Bay Psalm Book survive, and it holds the distinction of being the first book printed in British North America. When Sotheby’s auctioned one in 2013, it sold for $14.2 million, making headlines around the world. Printed in 1640 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this small hymnal played a major role in early American religious life. The book’s plain, utilitarian appearance belies its significance; it represents a foundational artifact from the earliest days of the American colonies. The buyer, David Rubenstein, again chose to share his acquisition with the public, loaning it to libraries and museums for exhibitions. Its sale price shattered previous records for printed books in America and signaled the enduring fascination with the roots of American culture.
Shakespeare’s First Folio
When a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio hit the auction block in 2020, it sold for $9.98 million at Christie’s. Printed in 1623, the First Folio is the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, and only 235 known copies exist. This particular copy was in remarkably good condition and included original annotations, making it especially desirable to collectors. The First Folio’s legendary status comes from its role in preserving nearly half of Shakespeare’s plays, which might otherwise have been lost. Whenever one appears at auction, it ignites excitement among literary scholars and investors alike. Its record-breaking sale reaffirmed Shakespeare’s enduring legacy and the incredible value attached to works that have shaped the English language.
Gutenberg Bible
The Gutenberg Bible, printed around 1455, is often called the most important book in Western history—it was the first major book produced using movable type. A complete copy hasn’t been auctioned in decades, but a single volume sold for $5.4 million in 1987 at Christie’s New York. Only 49 copies are known to exist, and most are incomplete. The Gutenberg Bible’s value comes from its rarity, historical importance, and the sheer beauty of its design. Each copy was hand-illuminated and bound in unique styles, making every surviving volume a distinct treasure. Libraries and wealthy collectors fiercely compete for even a single leaf. Its sale in the 1980s set a high-water mark for printed books and is still referenced as a milestone in the rare book world.
The St Cuthbert Gospel
The St Cuthbert Gospel is the earliest known intact European book with its original binding, dating back to the 7th century. When the British Library acquired it in 2012 for $14 million, it became one of the most expensive religious texts ever traded. The Gospel is a pocket-sized Latin book of the Gospel of John, placed in St Cuthbert’s tomb on the island of Lindisfarne. Its astonishing preservation—both the book and the leather binding—makes it a marvel of medieval craftsmanship. The British Library’s fundraising campaign to purchase it involved public support, demonstrating the book’s deep cultural resonance. Its acquisition was covered widely in the press and is considered a landmark moment for the preservation of Britain’s literary heritage.
The Gospels of Henry the Lion
The Gospels of Henry the Lion is a lavishly illustrated 12th-century Gospel book created for Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony. When it sold at Sotheby’s in 1983 for £8.1 million (around $11.7 million at the time), it broke all previous records for a manuscript. The German government and a consortium of public institutions raised funds to ensure the book remained in Germany. The Gospel’s stunning Romanesque miniatures and gold-leaf decorations make it a masterpiece of medieval art. The sale was a national event in Germany, with the book now housed safely in the Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel. Its story highlights the lengths nations will go to protect their cultural treasures.
The Gutenberg Psalter
Less famous than the Gutenberg Bible but just as rare, the Gutenberg Psalter is one of the earliest printed books using both movable type and color. In 2014, a complete Psalter fetched $8.2 million at a German auction, exciting collectors and historians. Printed in Mainz in 1457, it features elaborate initials and musical notation, making it a technical marvel. Only a handful of complete copies exist, and each is considered a masterpiece of early printing. Its blend of old-world artistry and new technology makes it a symbol of the dawn of the print age. The Psalter’s sale was widely reported as yet another reminder of the enduring value of incunabula—books printed before 1501.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Luca is the co founder of trib, an art and fashion collectiv you find on several regional events and online. Also he is part of the management board at HORiZONTE, a group travel provider in Germany.
